No slip-ups for Dunbarton in first round of PG Cup

The Dunbarton A team safely negotiated their way into the second round of the Senior Private Greens Cup with a thumping 50 shot win away to Second Division Comber last Thursday night.

On paper, the locals were expected to be too strong for their North Down opponents and that was exactly what happened. The Gilford side got off to a flyer outscoring the hosts 13-1 on the opening end and from then, it was plain sailing.

Next up in the cup is a home tie against another Second Division side, Ballywalter. Again the locals will expect a safe passage into the third round.

Rink 1 C Trainor, G Moore, G McElroy, C McCartan 25-18

Right from the off, this proved to be a one sided contest as all four Dunbarton bowlers “decorated the jack”, resulting in a count of six on the opening end. After a third of the game was played there was no let up as 12-1 advantage was established. With further counts of 4 on end 12 and 5 on end 13, it was one way traffic and by the close the away rink had romped to an excellent 19 shot success.

Rink 2 J Moffatt, C Mulholland, P Convery, DJ Wilson 23-9

Despite a first end count of four shots, it took DJ’s men a while to hit top gear. After five ends, they held a slender 6-4 lead and even at the two thirds mark, there were still only four shots separating the sides at 12-8. Over the final six ends however, the locals moved up the gears, claiming an 11-1 score for a fine 14 shot win

Rink 3 E Byrne, J Kelly, A Hughes, M Greenfield 19-17

This was undoubtedly the closest game of the night as the home rink fought like trojans! Myles and his front three started well storming into an 8-3 lead after just five ends but all their hard work was undone on ends 11 and 12 when counts of 5 and 3 were conceded. Suddenly the hosts were back in the game and sniffing an upset as they led 11-12. Over the final six ends it was nip and tuck and it took a fine delivery from Myles to score an all important on the last end to ensure a two shot success.

Rink 4 R McElroy, J Magennis, M Merritt, M Trainor 22-7

The early stages of this game was close and after six ends, Marty’s rink held a narrow one shot advantage, 5-4. However, over the remaining twelve ends, there was only one side in the game as the visiting rink applied constant pressure to which the hosts had no answer. By the two thirds mark, the Dunbarton lead was extended to ten shots, 15-5 and this was increased over the remaining ends to 15 shots and a very comprehensive win.

FIXTURES

This week Dunbarton have two league fixtures, starting with an away trip to Willowfield this Tuesday night (12th), followed by a tricky home tie against an improving Larne side. The locals will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten league record.